Unite Scotland has attacked Scottish Government cuts to a crucial fuel duty rebate which could lead to passenger service and job cuts across the sector.

Unite members in Scotland’s bus services say a 20% cut to the fuel duty rebate due to changes in the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) will inevitability result in increased fares for the travelling public and cuts to less profitable routes, while workers’ terms, conditions and employment status will be squeezed as operators will be forced to offset the financial loss.

The BSOG provides a 70 per cent rebate on fuel duty. This leaves bus operators paying 30 cent of fuel duty. From April 2012 the Scottish Government will cut the rebate to 50%.

What they clearly fail to realise is the travelling public and the workers delivering Scotland’s bus services will suffer the most as operators cut their cloth. This does nothing to sustain jobs and nothing to improve affordability and services for the public.

Once again the Scottish Government’s public transport policies must be called into question. They need to urgently get round the table with bus operators and trade unions – and as part of a wider debate of reform in the delivery of bus services in Scotland – to right this wrong.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors: For further information please contact Peter Welsh in the Unite Scotland Campaigns Unit on 07810157931.